Senator Loren Legarda on Friday urged the public not to draw "unwarranted conclusions" from her reported trip abroad, saying it was solely for medical reasons and unrelated to the Ombudsman's preliminary investigation into possible plunder and graft charges against her and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.

Legarda said her leave was filed "in accordance with Senate rules" and should not be linked to the "recent false and baseless allegations, which undeservedly besmirch a reputation that I have built over decades of public service."

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that Legarda's chief of staff submitted a letter informing his office of the senator's three-day medical leave from 3 to 5 August.

Senate President Win Gatchalian, however, said he had no information about Legarda's reported foreign trip, which was disclosed earlier Friday by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). He noted that senators do not need Senate travel authority for personal trips.

Legarda was absent from Senate sessions and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte for three consecutive days this week.

Her absence came about a week after Ombudsman Boying Remulla announced a preliminary investigation into possible plunder and graft charges against Legarda and Leviste over controversial solar energy contracts.

According to the Ombudsman, Legarda, Leviste, and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi allegedly conspired to secure "exclusive government rights over the country's solar energy resources through legislative and regulatory actions" for Leviste's solar firm.

Remulla said the alleged award of the contracts would not have been possible without Legarda's position as chair of the Senate finance committee.

The case reportedly involves more than P10 billion worth of allegedly uncompleted solar energy projects, with Leviste's firm accused of failing to deliver the promised solar electricity under government-backed agreements.

Legarda has denied the allegations, calling them part of a "smear" campaign aimed at damaging her reputation.

The NBI said Legarda and Leviste left the Philippines on separate flights on Aug. 2. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Legarda flew to France via Hong Kong, while Leviste traveled to Hong Kong ahead of the bureau's scheduled probe into his alleged role in an alleged "honey trap" plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and other senior government officials.

The NBI's fact-finding investigation is examining possible violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.